Nursing home owners charged in storm deaths

Some residents escaped
The Manganos had an evacuation plan as required under state law, both their attorney and the attorney general said.

But Foti said the nursing home had a contract with an ambulance service to evacuate the patients, but the owners didn’t call the company. They also turned down an offer from St. Bernard Parish officials who asked if the nursing home wanted help evacuating, he said.

The victims died Aug. 29, the day the hurricane hit, and on Sept. 6, at least 14 unrecognizable bodies were still inside the nursing home, the New York Times reported last week.

St. Bernard Parish Councilman Ricky Melerine said the water rose 3 feet in 15 minutes that morning and then even faster, the Times said.

Several men tried to rescue the nursing home’s residents by floating them out on mattresses, and others were able to walk to a school, the Times said. In all, the home had about 60 residents.

There were apparent efforts to fight the incoming water inside St. Rita’s. A table was nailed against a window and a couch was pushed up against a door, the Times said. There was also evidence that water had reached the roof.

Foti said the bodies have not all been identified and he was not sure how many of the victims were patients or staff.

Foti declined to say if the Manganos remained at the nursing home throughout the storm or if they fled before it struck Aug. 29.

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